July, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 27 



" Your committee would urge upon members the importance 

 of supporting this portion of the Club's work by contributions to 

 its proceedings, the after publication of which, through the 

 medium of the Nahtralist, reaches a large circle of students 

 throughout the world. 



" The natural history notes read at the monthly meetings have 

 frequently proved of great value, and in some cases provoked 

 discussion of an interesting character. During the year many 

 unique specimens have been exhibited, and your committee 

 would urge upon all members the desirability of contributing 

 to this, which is not the least interesting part of our monthly 

 meetings. 



" After an interval of three years a general conversazione and 

 exhibition of wild-flowers was held in the Masonic Hall, Collins- 

 street, on 22nd and 23rd September last, when the Club was 

 honoured by the presence of His Excellency Sir T. Gibson- 

 Carmichael and Lady Carmichael. His Excellency evinced 

 great interest in the exhibition, and kindly opened the pro- 

 ceedings. The exhibits were of the usual interesting character, 

 and their preparation and display had cost the owners many 

 precious hours of work. The exhibition of wild-flowers was very 

 fine, and the Club is particularly indebted to those friends in the 

 country to whose efforts its success was greatly due. The 

 financial result was hardly so good as on some previous occasions, 

 but the monetary result of such an exhibition has no relation 

 to its educational value, which, we believe, was of a high 

 standard. 



"The programmes of excursions for seniors and juniors, drawn 

 up at the beginning of the year, have been duly carried out, and 

 on the whole have been well attended. The choice of interesting 

 localities close to Melbourne is becoming more limited every 

 year, so that on several occasions members made rather long 

 trips into the country, and with very gratifying attendances. It 

 may be pointed out that the carrying out of an excursion pro- 

 gramme is a very difficult matter, as so much depends upon the 

 weather and season, and it is only fair that those members who 

 give their services as leaders should receive that support which 

 their action warrants. The Club is indebted to several of the 

 leaders for interesting detailed reports of the excursions which, 

 having been published in the Naturalist, are available as founda- 

 tions for future excursions to the same localities. The excursions 

 afford splendid opportunities, to new members especially, of 

 becoming acquainted with convenient collecting grounds, and, 

 while being of a health-giving nature, are excellent means for 

 members to become acquainted with one another. 



" The twenty-fifth volume of the Club's journal has been com- 

 pleted and issued to members, &c. That it is in demand as an 



